Basically, fat tummy is caused by eating the wrong foods, heavy drinking,
consuming too many calories and/or insufficient exercise. Also women gain a lot
of weight with having children. Some of them never get to lose the fat, especially
on the tummy area. And this makes them unhappy, probably because they may
have lost that “skimpy” look! But, a bulging tummy is not only an aesthetic issue;
It is also about one’s health. You may have heard that excess abdominal fat
increases your risk of a number of diseases including type 2 diabetes, cancer,
hypertension, and heart condition. This could be due to the fact that when fat lies
deep in the abdomen, surrounding organs and secreting toxic hormones, it
contributes to the thickening of the walls of coronary blood vessels, which
increases the chances of having a heart attack. The liver also suffers when you
have too much tummy flab. It has to work that much harder to filter out toxic
substances. Many studies have confirmed that fat deposits have direct
associations with disease risk thereby confirming the dangers of abdominal fat.
So, lets take a look at how you can shed the fat in your tummy area with very
simple life style changes and herbs:
Give your gut a rest:
To achieve that flat tummy one so desires, this tops my list.
And it is very simple when compared with other kinds of weight management
programs. Simply eat dinner as early as 6 p.m. (latest by 7.30 p.m.) and not eat
again until eight in the morning. By so doing, you’ll will be giving your gut at least
12 hours of rest. You will even surpass your target if you have the first meal of the
day after 14 hours of not eating or drinking. This single, simple change may be all
you need to trigger a dramatic weight loss. A lot of people with perfect waist line
swear by an early dinner-time. You too can drop all the weight with very little
effort; no diet pills, fat burners, or shakes. However, as simple as it may sound,
this nightly fasts may not be easy for those who believe it’s too painful to go to
bed hungry! If you are among such people, you may take some fluids. And trust
me, in a flash, your whole body will change. You’ll literally notice from the first
day when you look into the mirror that your stomach is smarter! Then giving your
“gut a rest”, will easily become a part of you. And you will be amazed how many
dress sizes you would effortlessly drop, within a short period. You too can boldly
affirm – “the secret to a flat tummy is as simple as an early dinner-time!”
It is noteworthy that apart from getting a smarter tummy, research on breast
cancer survivors, has found that breast cancer recurrences were less likely when
women abstained from food for at least 13 hours at night.
Limit intake of sugars and carbonated sodas:
Research has also found that consuming one or two bottles of soda daily causes
your waistline to increase at least five times faster than those who barely drink
soda in the course of a week. It is believed that the high amount of sugar used in
sodas trigger your craving for food, so you end up eating more than you should
during mealtimes. If you have that serious craving for a satisfying drink, why not
go for healthy smoothies, fresh fruit juices, or a glass of water with lemon zest
and mint leaves? You’ll be doing your body and overall health some good. Be sure
not to drink too much, especially those high in fructose.
Include some healthy fats:
the key to unlocking the metabolic fire rests on eating
healthy fats. One of the reasons some people find it difficult losing fat is because
they avoid eating foods with any type of fat, but rather indulge in many sugar-
laden foods. A diet that is rich in monounsaturated fats, including avocado pear,
coconuts, nuts, seeds and olive oil, helps to melt that stubborn abdominal fat.
Foods that contain these healthy fats work to send a signal to your brain that your
stomach is full, ultimately resulting in eating less and feeling satisfied longer.
Limit or eliminate all processed foods:these contain harmful toxins in the form of
artificial flavors and colors, preservatives and a long list of other ingredients that
can negatively affect your ability to lose body fat.
Get a regular night’s sleep:
It is equally important to give your self a good rest.
Many studies have linked inadequate sleep with weight gain, which may include
abdominal fat.
Also,
You can shape up and lose those unsightly bulges as fast as possible with the
following herbs:
Lemon – taking lemon with warm water first thing in the morning is one of the
simplest and very effective remedies to get rid of tummy fat. All you need is a
glass of warm water, a tbsp. of lemon and tsp. of honey, if desired. For faster
result, add 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar.
Coriander – I was very glad to find that this my favorite spice, keeps the stomach in
top shape. It does all sorts and adds flavour to my oats, pap, vegetables, stews
and porridges. You may simply infuse some coriander powder in freshly boiled
water to help you shed extra kilos. The taste is super, so you may not need to add
honey or lemon. Enjoy!
Stellaria media (chickweed, awede, nri òkukò) – this herb has a long-standing
reputation for aiding weight loss and has gained popularity in many product
formulations for obesity and weight loss supplements. It can be eaten raw in salads, steamed or sprinkled in foods. An infusion of chickweed will not only help
break down fat, but will decrease appetite, curb cravings, make you urinate a lot
(diuretic), and even assist digestion.
Dandelion – if your belly fat is due to water retention, dandelion tea should be your
new best friend (plus it tastes good too). Like chickweed, dandelion is also a
natural diuretic. Not only will this herb increase your urine output, it will improve
your liver function. To flush retained water and toxins out of your body, especially
from the stomach (abdominal bloating), combine dandelion root with some fat-
burning spices – ginger, cinnamon, mint, rosemary. Bring those to a boil and then
simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool, strain and take a small tumbler 2X daily.
Basil (effirin, nchuanwu) – this wonderful herb targets tummy fat by boosting
metabolic rate (helping you burn more calories). In addition, it makes you relax
and reduce your stress level which in return helps in weight reduction (some form
of stress have been attributed to weight gain). Added to your soups, stews,
porridges, basil contributes to the flavor and aroma that makes your meal tasty,
appealing and highly medicinal. You can make an infusion with the dried leaves – 1
teaspoon in a teacup of freshly boiled water for 15 minutes. Strain and add
honey, if desired.
Peppermint is known to support good digestion and keep your metabolic rate in
check. A study found that even smell of peppermint can help to decrease
appetite. And these factors are key to weight loss. So sip on a cup of peppermint
tea every day with a dash of lemon juice to make it “zingy”.
Water – is the elixir of life. Have at least eight glasses of water a day to help get rid
of excess fat.
While the above recommendations and herbs may help to reduce fat in your
tummy area, it is equally important to exercise and of course watch your diet.
Natureal 